Table of Contents
Background:
A panoply of instruments measuring caregiver burden have been developed since Zarit, Reever, and Bach-Peterson’s (1980) pioneering study investigating carer strain using the Zarit Burden interview. Yet, a dearth of studies exist for parsing the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of the carer. McMillan (1996) designed a valid and reliable caregiver quality of life index to study such constructs in the partner of the patient. Later, Weitzner and colleagues (1999) modified this scale to serve as a well-being outcome measure specifically for carers of cancer patients.
Psychometrics:
The CQOLC possesses acceptable validity, test-retest reliability and internal consistency (see Weitzner, Jacobsen, Wagner, Friedland, & Cox, 1999).
Author of Tool:
M. A. Weitzner, P. B. Jacobsen, H. Wagner Jr., J. Friedland, C. Cox
Key references:
McMillan, S. C. (1996). Quality of life of primary caregivers of hospice patients with cancer. Cancer Pract;4:191-8.
Weitzner, M. A., Jacobsen, P. B., Wagner, H., Friedland, J., & Cox, C. (1999). The Caregiver Quality of Life Index–Cancer (CQOLC) Scale: development and validation of an instrument to measure quality of life of the family caregiver of patients with cancer. Quality of Life Research, 8, 55–63.
Zarit, S. H., Reever, K. E., Bach-Peterson, J. (1980). Relatives of the impaired elderly: correlates of feeling of burden. Gerontologist; 20:649 -55.
Primary use / Purpose:
The Caregiver Quality of Life Index- Cancer (CQOLC) scale is a 35-item cancer-specific instrument that assesses the career of a cancer patient’s quality of life, that is, some of the physical, social, emotional, and financial aspects of well-being, and functioning.
Other Information:
Scoring instructions: Highlighted items on questionnaire should be reversed scored.
Content of each item of the CQOLC
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Alteration in daily routine
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Disruption of sleep
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Impact on daily schedule
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Satisfaction with sexual functioning
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Maintenance of outside activities
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Financial strain
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Concern about insurance
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Economic future
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Death of patient
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Outlook on life
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Level of stress
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Spirituality
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Day-to-day focus
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Sadness
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Mental strain
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Social support
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Guilt
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Frustration
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Nervousness
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Impact of illness on family
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Patient’s eating habits
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Relationship with patient
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Informed about illness
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Transportation
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Adverse effects of treatment
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Responsibility for patient’s care
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Focus of caregiving
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Family communication
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Change in priorities
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Protection of patient
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Deterioration of patient
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Management of patient’s pain
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Future outlook
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Family support
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Family interest in caregiving